How can I protect the reader from ESD (Electrostatic discharge) damage?
Protecting the reader from ESD requires two steps: • Connection to earth ground: the reader’s Pin 15 / EGND must be connected to a proper earth ground such as a cold water copper pipe or building ground that measures less than 4 ohms resistance against a known earth ground. A 14-18AWG single conductor cable should be used for this purpose. This provides a discharge path for any ESD travelling through the reader. • Ridge-Lock as first point of contact: the ridge-lock located below the sensor is made of a conductive material connected to Pin 15 / EGND. The ridge-lock is designed to not only provide consistent finger placement, but also designed to be the first point of contact a user has with the reader. As such, any ESD a person may be carrying will be discharged on the ridge prior to directly touching the sensor. Non-compliance with either of the two requirements may result in sensors damaged by ESD.
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